TEAM MACK: Goldstein Cousins Club 2008: St Maarten

We just got back from St Maarten where we celebrated our 1st Goldstein’s Cousins Club. We are all very sad that we are back home and no longer on vacation, but we had an amazing time and will never forget the family memories we created! We couldn’t have dreamed of a better trip-- our room overlooked the ocean and was right next to the pool, the weather was perfect, and our little guy lived up to Grandpa’s nickname and was a true angel!!!! The flights getting there were miserable (two VERY long delays), but J handled it like a champ. Once we finally got there, he wasn’t even affected by the small wobbly crib and the 3 hour time difference- he’s our super baby!!!!

Every day we relaxed on the deck, went swimming, and went for family walks. Jayden had MANY exciting “firsts” on this trip!! We took him swimming in the pool and in the ocean. J was a bit skeptical of the cold water at 1st, but after a day or two, he couldn’t get enough of it. He is a true California baby and LOVED swimming in the water. When we held him in the pool he kicked his legs and splashed him arms like he was swimming. He also went swimming in the ocean for the 1st time, but I think he liked the pool better.

Now that Jayden is becoming much more aware of his surroundings, he was very interested in everything and everyone around him. He stared at EVERYTHING and tried to feel/eat as much as he could. His favorite thing to feel in St Maarten was this red flower that looked like a koosh ball. Every time we walked past it we would hold him in front of the flower and he would hold out his hand and play with it. He also loved to feel the sand in between his toes and in his hands. He loved to sit in the sand and bury his feet. He also put his hands in the sand and, of course, tried to put it directly in his mouth! Whenever we went on walks, J would look around and try to see everything. He smiled at EVERYONE and, as Daddy liked to say, gave away smiles for free.

The coolest part of the trip was seeing Jayden interact with his cousin Tyler. He was amazed by Tyler and would just sit and stare at him. At 1st he was a bit intimidated by him (Tyler is a little loud!), but by the end of the week Jayden was touching Tyler’s face and they even held hands a few times. Tyler even fed Jayden some of his cereal and helped put him to bed!

It was so amazing to get to spend a whole week together as a family. J had so much fun seeing his daddy all week long and spending time with his cousin and the rest of the Goldstein clan. We’re already counting down the days until next year!!